Lots of pet parents like to include their furry friends in the Christmas festivities but not all pet products or festive foods are safe for your pets. BEWARE! 

Please do not buy your dog Rawhide chews 

Rawhide is widely sold in the UK as a dog chew, but it is dangerous. It can cause choking and fatal intestinal blockages, as well as poisoning due to the chemicals used in its processing. 

When chewed, rawhide becomes soft and sticky, but it is indigestible. If your dog swallows a large chunk, it can get stuck in their throat which can be a life-threatening emergency. It can also swell in the stomach or intestines to up to four times its original size and cause a blockage, which could mean your dog needs surgery to remove it.  

And that’s not all. The manufacturing process involves harsh chemicals such as sodium sulphide, formaldehyde and hydrogen peroxide to remove fat and hair and bleach the hide. All of these chemicals are toxic and can lead to poisoning. In addition, there’s a risk of contamination with bacteria during processing, which could cause nasty stomach upsets. 

If that hasn’t put you off, it’s worth knowing that some dogs can be sensitive or allergic to Rawhide which can cause tummy upsets, and chewing such a hard substance can cause tooth damage, which can be very expensive to put right.

Our Christmas treats can be dangerous for your pets!

Will you be tucking into mince pies, Christmas pudding, Christmas Cake and chocolates this festive season? Please don’t be tempted to share these treats with your pets as they could give you the sort of present in return that you would rather not have. 

• Dried fruit such as raisins and citrus fruit peel found in mince pies, Christmas pudding and Christmas cake are toxic for dogs and cats.  Raisins contain toxins that can cause kidney or liver damage and the citric acid in citrus fruits can cause an upset tummy.   
• Macadamia nuts are also highly toxic for dogs. Just a few nuts can cause weakness in the legs, vomiting, depression and a temperature.
• Chocolate is toxic for dogs and cats and can cause vomiting and diarrhoea as well as heart issues or seizures. 

Please keep all those Christmas treats for yourself and don’t be tempted to share no matter how much they beg!